The Political Science Major is suitable for students with career interests in law, politics, or governmental service (at local, state, or federal levels), as well as for students who have more general intellectual interests in government, politics, and international relations as part of their effort to obtain a liberal education or to prepare for careers in business or nonprofit work.

Students should take a broad variety of courses in the major to become familiar with the diversity of topics and methods used by contemporary political scientists throughout the world. Majors should consult early with their faculty advisors to plan programs most suitable to their individual interests and needs.

Students seeking teacher licensure should see School of Education Licensure Programs. Licensure in social studies is available for political science majors. Additional hours may be required for completion of the degree.

The American Politics concentration provides Political Science majors with sufficient breadth and depth of knowledge in American political institutions and behavior to give students the academic background necessary to succeed in related jobs and professions and to prepare them for advanced study in this field.

The Global Politics concentration provides Political Science majors sufficient breadth and depth of knowledge in international relations and comparative politics to give students the academic background necessary to succeed in related jobs and professions and to prepare them for advanced studies in these fields.

The Prelaw concentration is designed for political science majors with a strong interest in law. The concentration provides majors with a breadth and depth of knowledge of legal issues and legal research, rigorously prepares them for advanced studies in law, and trains them for the legal professions using a broad variety of skills relating to legal institutions and particular subject areas related to law.

The Public Affairs concentration provides Political Science majors sufficient breadth and depth of knowledge in public policy, public affairs, and public administration to give students the academic background necessary to succeed in related jobs and professions and to prepare them for advanced studies in these fields.

Overall Requirements

• 120 credit hours, to include at least 36 credits at or above the 300 course level.
• Minimum of 30 credits in Political Science. 
• Minimum of 18 credits in PSC courses at the 300 level or above. 

Degree Program Requirements

Course List

Code	Title	Credit Hours
University Requirements
General Education Requirements (MAC)
College of Arts and Sciences Additional Requirements (CIC)

Major Requirements

Course List

Code	Title	Credit Hours
Core Courses		12
PSC 200	American Politics
PSC 240	The International System
PSC 260	Introduction to Comparative Politics
PSC 301	Research Methods in Political Science
Political Theory		3
Select one course from the list below: *
PSC 270	Introduction to Political Theory
PSC 371	American Political Thought
PSC 375	Democracy and Its Critics
PSC 376	Critical Political Theory

*

PSC 300 qualifies only when approved by the department as an appropriate Political Theory-related course.

Optional Concentrations

Any of the optional concentrations as detailed following the major requirements may be added, but a concentration is not required.

• American Politics
• Civic Leadership and Engagement 
• Global Politics
• Prelaw
• Public Affairs
• Political Science with Social Studies High School Teaching Licensure 

Electives

Courses in other social sciences and in history are recommended. Electives sufficient to complete the 120 credit hours required for the degree must be taken.

American Politics Concentration Requirements

In partial fulfillment of the major requirement of 18 credits at the 300 level or higher, the American Politics concentration requires 12 credits selected from the courses listed below.

Course List

Code	Title	Credit Hours
Select 12 credits from the following:
PSC 322	American State Politics
PSC 327	American Political Parties
PSC 328	North Carolina and Southern Politics
PSC 329	American Interest Group Politics
PSC 330	Internship in Campaigns and Elections
PSC 332	Elections and Voting
PSC 333	The U.S. Congress
PSC 334	The American Presidency
PSC 337	Politics and the Media
PSC 355M	Selected Topics in Comparative Politics: Political Economy
PSC 371	American Political Thought

Civic Leadership and Engagement Concentration Requirements

In partial fulfillment of the major requirement of 18 credits at the 300 level or higher, the Civic Leadership and Engagement concentration requires the items detailed below.

Course List

Code	Title	Credit Hours
Required		15
PSC 370	Civic Leadership and Engagement
Select 4 courses from the list below:
PSC 309	Entrepreneurship in the Public Sector
PSC 311	The Nonprofit Sector and Governance
PSC 323	Urban Politics
PSC 325	Community Development
PSC 330	Internship in Campaigns and Elections
PSC 349	Human Rights and the Global Citizen
PSC 399	Public Affairs Internship
PSC 410	Topics in Public Policy

Global Politics Concentration Requirements

In partial fulfillment of the major requirement of 18 credits at the 300 level or higher, the Global Politics concentration requires 12 credits of course work selected from categories A and B listed below. The student must complete at least 3 credits in each category.

Course List

Code	Title	Credit Hours
Select 12 credits, with at least 3 credits in each category, from the following:
Category A:
PSC 341	International Law
PSC 342	American Foreign Policy
PSC 344	Politics of Globalization
PSC 347	International Security
PSC 348	International Organization
Category B:
PSC 350	Democratic Political Systems
PSC 352	Nationalism and Ethnic Politics
PSC 354	Post-Conflict Politics
PSC 355D	Selected Topics in Comparative Politics: Politics of Industrial Societies
PSC 355J	Selected Topics in Comparative Politics: Middle East Politics
PSC 355K	Selected Topics in Comparative Politics: Russian Politics
PSC 355M	Selected Topics in Comparative Politics: Political Economy
PSC 355N	Selected Topics in Comparative Politics: European Union
PSC 355P	Selected Topics in Comparative Politics: Politics of Latin America
PSC 391	African Political Systems
PSC 392	The Politics of South Africa Through Film and Literature

Prelaw Concentration Requirements

In partial fulfillment of the major requirement of 18 credits at the 300 level or higher, the Prelaw concentration requires the items detailed below.

Course List

Code	Title	Credit Hours
Required		12
PSC 316	Judicial Process
Select 9 credits of the following: *
PSC 270	Introduction to Political Theory
PSC 280	Introduction to Law
PSC 312	Environmental Law and Policy
PSC 313	Natural Resources Law and Policy
PSC 318	Constitutional Law
PSC 320	Civil Liberties
PSC 333	The U.S. Congress
PSC 334	The American Presidency
PSC 336	Women and the Law
PSC 375	Democracy and Its Critics
PSC 341	International Law
PSC 371	American Political Thought

*

PSC 300 and PSC 399 qualify only when approved by the department as an appropriate prelaw-related course.

Public Affairs Concentration Requirements

In partial fulfillment of the major requirement of 18 credits at the 300 level or higher, the Public Affairs concentration requires the completion of 12 credits with choices of courses in public policy, public administration, and public affairs as detailed below.

Course List

Code	Title	Credit Hours
Select 12 credits from the following:		12
PSC 210	Introduction to Health Policies
PSC 310	Public Administration
PSC 311	The Nonprofit Sector and Governance
PSC 312	Environmental Law and Policy
PSC 316	Judicial Process
PSC 322	American State Politics
PSC 323	Urban Politics
PSC 329	American Interest Group Politics
PSC 333	The U.S. Congress
PSC 334	The American Presidency
PSC 399	Public Affairs Internship
PSC 355M	Selected Topics in Comparative Politics: Political Economy

Political Science with High School Teaching Licensure Concentration Requirements

The university, college, and departmental major requirements are the same as for any other political science major. Additional semester hours may be required for completion of the degree. Those intending to gain teacher licensure are encouraged to choose electives in Psychology, Sociology, Philosophy, Religious Studies, or Anthropology that address human behavior and experiences from complementary or, perhaps, alternative perspectives. Completion of licensure will enable one who wishes to teach Social Studies curricula in the secondary schools to gain the background for teaching political science and related courses as well. 

• Minimum of 45 credit hours in social studies beyond the requirements for the Political Science major

Teacher Licensure Requirements

The courses listed below satisfy competencies for the Standard Professional I License in Secondary Social Studies.

Course List

Code	Title	Credit Hours
Additional Requirements for Teacher Licensure		45
ECO 201	Principles of Microeconomics
or ECO 202	Principles of Macroeconomics
HIS 308	Navigating World History
HIS 316	Interpreting American History
HIS 430	Historical Methods for Social Studies Teachers
HIS 440	Principles and Practices for Teaching History
Choose one additional 300-level history course.
The following courses must be taken in a specified sequence, terminating in student teaching in the spring semester of the senior year. See the online Secondary Education Handbook for more information.
TED 435	Literacy in the Content Area
ERM 405	Measurement and Assessment in Teaching
TED 444	Educational Psychology for the Secondary Grades
TED 445	Human Diversity, Teaching, and Learning
TED 453	Teaching Practices and Curriculum in Social Studies
TED 465	Student Teaching: Secondary School
TED 466	Student Teaching Seminar

Disciplinary Honors in Political Science 

Requirements

• A minimum of 12 credit hours as defined below.
• A grade of at least B in all course work used to satisfy the Honors requirement in Political Science
• Declared Political Science Major

• Minimum overall 3.30 GPA at graduation

Course List

Code	Title	Credit Hours
Required		6-9
PSC 493	Honors Work
HSS 490	Senior Honors Project
Select 3 credits at the 200 level or above		3
Select at least 3 credits at the 300 level or above		3

Recognition

The designation “Completed Disciplinary Honors in Political Science” and the title of the Senior Honors Project will be printed on the student’s official transcript.

Honors Advisor

See Honors Faculty liaison Jerry Pubantz for further information and guidance about Honors in Political Science.